“Slow down,” the sign instructs drivers entering Armstrong Farms in Saxonburg, but the sentiment goes for those staying on as well.

Four Points Alpacas in Forward Township has dubbed its experience “life in the slow lane.”

Farm stays at places like these, along with county fairs, farm markets and wineries, are four ways agriculture is growing in Pennsylvania.

Combine elements of Pennsylvania’s two largest industries — agriculture and tourism — and you’ve got the newest way for farmers to make ends meet.

“Agritourism is generating some extra revenue for our farmers,” said state Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolff.

“We have a national program to preserve farmland, but we need to preserve our farmers on their land,” Wolff said.

Agribusiness generates $40 billion a year for the commonwealth and tourism brings in $23 billion, said Wolff, a dairy farmer by trade.

There’s no figure yet placed on how much money agritourism brings to the state, but a soon-to-be released study from a California (Pa.) University professor will address just that, according to the state Department of Agriculture’s Brant Bickel, division chief for economic development, agritourism and fairs.

“The point is it’s bringing money into rural areas, helping farmers stay profitable,” Wolff said.

On Tuesday, Wolff was at the Big Butler Fair, the earliest fair of more than 100 that take place each season. His visit was part of the kickoff tour for the Blue Ribbon Passport program, a recognition of agritourism and an attempt to promote it.

For example, more than 6 million people attend county fairs in Pennsylvania each year, Wolff said.

“We’re hoping they’ll say, ‘We’ll stay at a farm while we’re at the fair, or visit a farmers market or winery on the way,’” he said.

“Pennsylvania is in a very unique location,” Wolff said. “There are 8 million people in New York City, 1½ million in Philadelphia and another million in the Baltimore area. We’ve got beautiful scenery, mountains, valleys, farms. We can take advantage of that.”

Have you herd?

Don Phillips and his wife, Jan, operate Four Points Alpacas on 13 acres atop a breezy hill in Forward Township.“We’ve experienced five or six times the hits on our Web site just since this Passport program started, and we just received our packet of information on that last week,” Don said.“I think it’s really people wanting to get back to their rural roots or people wanting to experience farm living,” he said.“It’s quiet here,” Jan said. “People ask us, ‘Do you ever get to go on vacation?’ Why would we want to? Fourth of July was great. There were fireworks every night of the weekend we could see from our porch.”The Phillipses have only been farm owners for about two years. They opened a shop of alpaca fleece products and a guesthouse as a bridge until the alpaca breeding took off. It takes 11½ months for a baby alpaca, called a cria, to be born. “So it takes a long time to increase the herd,” Don said.Though the herd has grown to around 25, they wouldn’t dream of closing the guesthouse. “There’s a woman here right now who’s working on her thesis,” Don said. “She came here because she wanted quiet, but she said she’s having trouble concentrating because she keeps wanting to look around.”One of the paddocks is right outside the guesthouse, which is attached to the main house but separated from the Phillips home by garages and the gift shop. Guests can see alpacas from their window.Cheers and steersJohn and Kathy Allen grew up in Pittsburgh but were able to visit grandparents on their farms in Butler County. “We assumed everyone could do (that), and they can’t,” Kathy Allen said.Armstrong Farms currently has about 100 head of black angus and shorthorn cattle, she said, even though they sold 350 head last year just because the prices were good.The bed and breakfast part of the business started with a bit of empty nest syndrome. “Our second son went off to school and I decided I needed to do something,” she said.release in Butler County.

Armstrong Farms has five guestrooms, two guesthouses and a furnished cabin. Guests can make use of six miles of walking trails, ponds for fishing and canoeing.“We’ve done a wildflower/bird walk in the spring for about six years. A botanist from Cleveland comes to do the identification,” she said. They’ve also had fly-fishing weekends.There are ducks, cats and Oliver the goat to feed and pet. “You can’t really interact with the cattle,” she noted.She does provide coloring books from a beef council and hamburger erasers for children who visit.“Agritourism is about education, too,” Wolff said of the industry’s effect on children. “Today we have such a disconnect between the farm and the consumer. Kids think food comes from a store.”“This really allows people to see what farms are all about,” Allen said.The newest addition — besides the seventh generation marked by the birth of the Allens’ grandson, Jay — is the Westminster Preserve part of the farm, essentially the next farm over, which the Allens bought in 2000.“It was part of the original 1816 farm the John’s family had,” Kathy said.“The barn was really falling down; we had to redo it. It’s strictly an event barn now; animals are no longer housed there.”Wedding receptions and retreats instead of horses and cows grace the wooden floors now.She said they’re even starting to renovate the barn’s silo into a suite. “It’s 18 feet in diameter; I think it’s 950 square feet of space,” she said. “And the view is spectacular.”No sour grapes

The goal of the initial Blue Ribbon Passport program was to enlist participants who are as close to Interstate 79 in Western Pennsylvania and I-78 in Eastern Pennsylvania as possible, Bickel said.“We met with potential participants last fall and asked them about who else should be included, We’d like to have it grow,” he added.“There are 58,000 farm families in Pennsylvania. We are always looking for new ways to help our farmers farm,” Wolff said.Wineries represent one of the fastest-growing variations of agritourism, Wolff said.The Vineyard by Mellon grows grapes as part of its 30 acres in Freeport. Owner Frank Mellon has been selling wine for five years, but raising grapes for much longer, he said. He and his parents bought the farm in 1970 and started studying the grapes in 1974.Mellon said his best seller is Del’s Diamond, made from the diamond grape and named after his girlfriend. “She likes white wine; I like red,” he said, preferring his Baco Noir.He said women between the ages of 27 and 36 are the best tasters for wine. “They have the best taste buds,” he said. “We have a lot of customers that I trust their judgement.”Besides the stomping, pressing and aging of wine, Mellon’s operation includes newly built guest cabins.“We hope (agritourism) will generate revenue so farmers can stay profitable and hopefully stay on the farms for a long, long time,” Wolff said. “We lose around 300 acres of open space every day. The challenges in many cases are the opportunities.”“We’re probably working harder than we’ve worked in our lives and getting more satisfaction out of it than any work we have,” Don Phillips said.“We feel it’s just going to get better and bigger. These people who work in cities and get themselves all tied up in knots, they need a release.”With a variety of venues already in place, it appears many travelers will find that release in Butler County.

Farm stays can be as fancy as the nicest bed and breakfast or much more rugged. Following are some DOs and DON’Ts for farm vacationers as recommended by the Department of Agriculture’s Blue Ribbon Passport program.- DO take some old clothes and a few extra pairs of shoes — remember that everything brown is not dirt.- DO plan to see some of the countryside.- DON’T be upset if your bedroom and bath are on different floors. After all, they’re both inside!- DO be willing to experience a new way of life.- DON’T take a pet unless you ask first. City and farm animals don’t always get along.- DO live by the host’s house rules.- DO wipe your feet before coming in the house, and instruct your children to do the same.- DON’T keep the farm folks up too late.- DO bring a supply of games and books, along with appropriate clothes in case of rain.- DO make your vacation arrangements directly with the farm of your choice.- DON’T forget your camera. There will be plenty of “firsts” to record for posterity.- DO make your reservations as early as possible.- DO have a great time!